24. “I want to marry you.”
They’d discussed it in the past, in the same way they had talked about children. It had been comfortable, easygoing but serious. Chimney kept it light, in a way Maddie appreciated. She didn’t need the pressure of a heartfelt conversation like that.
It came up one early morning, before Chimney had the heart to pry his arms away from around Maddie, he piped up quietly.
“Would you ever get married again?”
Before this, Maddie couldn’t say she had thought about it. Marriage to her meant so much more than met the eye, it meant tears and violence and so much pain. Thinking about it now though, she could imagine it again, especially as she thought about Chimney. Chimney who was kind, gentle, caring. He was perfect. But the thought of a marriage, no matter to who, still made her skin crawl.
“I still have too many memories. But one day, yea, I might like that.”
“How about, just like children, we stay a firm maybe?”
Maddie giggled, Chimney’s hands finding her stomach under the blanket, where a bump slowly grew.
“Because that worked out wonderfully.”
He gasped in mock offence.
“Was that sarcasm? From my noblest lady?”
Chimney chuckled lightly, a moment of comfortable silence passing before he spoke again.
It was certain, something Maddie didn’t get often in her past life, and she appreciated the control.
But it did make her wonder.
Did Chimney asking her this question mean he was ready? Did he want to marry her, maybe it was for the baby, if he felt like it was the right thing to do? Maddie didn’t feel pressure form him, she never did, rather, from herself. Pressure to figure out her feelings to figure out her mind so she could give Chimney what he deserved. To be happy. She felt it all for him, she did, but marriage? It was too soon for her. She just hoped he could wait long enough.
6 months passed in the blink of an eye, with morning sickness and back pain, swollen feet and soreness and a growing stomach. When the earthquake hit, it was minor, especially compared to her first, but terrifying as always. Worse so, when she found the 118 had been dispatched to a collapsing building.
She listened on through her earpiece, even after Josh told her she could disconnect, in hindsight, probably a bad decision.
“We need a head count. Captain Nash, responding.”
Maddie held her breath, counting her friends, relaxing with each voice she recognised, only to freeze, when the empty crackle of radio static was the only thing filling her ears.
“Chimney, please respond.”
She ripped the earpiece from her ear, staring in horror at it. The faint whisper, one she didn’t hear, but the 118 did.
“Chimney’s here Cap. I’m here.”
Maddie didn’t know how she would last the rest of the shift, not knowing where Chimney was, and thankfully, Sue understood, sending an anxious Maddie home in an Uber.
It only took five minutes of pacing, willing herself not to turn to the television on, for her resolve to crack, fumbling with the control for the TV to blare to life.
“…still being pulled from the wreckage, first responders moving in and out, experts are worried the next aftershock could bring down the whole buildi-”
She heard enough, already regretting that decision as she shut off the television and resigning herself to bed, letting the tears fall freely down her face, mind wandering to the worst possible scenario.
The apartment was quiet when Chimney opened the door. He already knew that she would be home, Josh had given him a call. Sure enough, her bag lay by the doorway and Chimney found her, back to the door, lying on the bed.
She sat up, looking, almost in disbelief at him, hands cupping his chin, eyes darting over his face, trying to memorise every detail.
“You’re okay, you’re okay.”
The tears Maddie shed hours ago, the ones she thought had disappeared, now returned, this time, tears if joy as she clung to his chest.
He was safe. They were safe.
Chimney blinked at her, stunned, face breaking into a grin as the words registered.
“Yes, definitely. I wasn’t sure before, because the thought of marriage hurt. But today taught me that I can’t lose you. Today has shown me how much I need you, how much you mean to me. It’s shown me how happy you make me, and what joy you bring to my life. And it’s a life I want to spend with you.”
His eyes shone, squeezing her hands as he stuttered.
He ran out, into the apartment, returning a few seconds later, now holding a black velvet box.
“Madeline Buckley, from the moment I saw you, I knew that I had found my missing piece, and you prove every day how beautiful love is. I love you Maddie, with all of my heart. Now,” he carefully opened the box, revealing a silver ring, a diamond surrounding with light blue gems. “Will you marry me?”
“Howie, I feel everything when I’m with you. Joy, I feel safe, carefree. Yes, I want to marry you. Yes yes yes!”
Maddie laughed gleefully, leaning forwards to press her lips against his. Chimney pulled back, laying his forehead against hers, smile never leaving his face.
“Madeline Han. Maddie Han.”
“Now that’s a name I could get used to.”
